Rainbow stumbled around as she tried to gather what exactly has happened to her right now.
"Where the hay is everyone? This certainly doesn't feel like Windsor Manor or even Inazuma at all! Hello?" Rainbow called, "anyone here?" The only reply came with a breeze of the wind.
"Man..." Rainbow sighed as she tried to look around her surroundings. She was on this calm and peaceful port with what looks like an area overgrown with nature. "I feel so weak and sleepy..." As she tried to delve deeper into the island through a given path, some force is impacting her fatigue as tried to leave the port.
"What the heck." Rainbow moaned as she explored most of the port as she could, were what the remains of some minuscule and broken down podium, she rummaged through the crumblings of the stone wall close to the wooden dock.
"Wha?" A sudden sound echoed in the air. Thinking it was a plane, she looked to the skies and turned towards to the direction of the island's interior, eager to find a way to get it's attention. When she realised her mind was playing tricks, she sighed in disappointment as she looked back in front. As she laid eyes on the island's entrance however, a young girl dressed in a white shirt and wearing a blue bracelet was idly standing there, facing towards the seas, her hands held together and her head slightly bent as if she was praying.
"H-Hey!" Rainbow called out, but the girl didn't seem to hear. After a few seconds of praying, she started walking back into the island entrance, away from the sky-blue coloured girl in hot pursuit.
"Wait!" Rainbow called as she ran after her but her fatigue kicked in as she reached the island entrance like before. With every step further, her muscles grew heavy and tired until she could do nothing but collapse onto the floor, barely gazing at the departing girl, fading away from her view.
"Ooh..." Rainbow reeled as she sat up in bed. The sun shining in her face once again. Looking around, she found herself back in a familiar room, with all her belongings scattered around.
"Oh..." Rainbow sighed with relief "so it was just a dream..."
"Rainbow Dash?" A voice replied, knocking on the door.
"Uh, come in!" Rainbow called, Flash Sentry walked into the room, fully dressed and bringing a bowl of cereal and some orange juice.
"Good Morning Rainbow, I see you've overslept again." Flash replied, Rainbow peered at the clock, just hitting 11am. "Good thing that it's still enough time for breakfast."
"Dang... I don't think I've started sleeping till after midnight." Rainbow sighed, "how's everyone else?"
"I woke up an hour before you did, Arion taught me a little bit of soccer after breakfast. His plans for today involve touring around Inazuma Town and if possible, meet the other Raimon players."
"Well then!" Rainbow yawned as she hopped out of bed. Revealing a very loose tank top and rumpled pyjama pants. Flash realised what he was now looking at and shielded his eyes in disgust.
"Any signal about what you wear to bed before showing me would be very appreciated." Flash replied,
"I normally get a room to myself... Sorry." Rainbow sighed, as she quickly gulped up her breakfast, she was ready to hit the door.
"Shall we go meet Arion?" Rainbow asked with grin,
"Unless you're completely fine with what you wear." Flash sighed,
"Oops!" Rainbow jumped in embarrassment, forgetting to change clothes... Again.
"We'll be out in the front porch with Sasuke, or Spotter as his English says." Flash noted as he strode out of the room. "Please change quickly." He left before closing the door.
After eating a quick but nutritious breakfast from Auntie Aki, Rainbow Dash was no later out in the front garden kicking ball with Tenma, showing of her skills through slaloming through the practice cones and giving a few kicks against the wall.
"I can definitely tell, you're a Forward." Tenma watched,
"Yep!" Rainbow replied,
"How did you play back in Equestria? I'd like to know!"
"Well, back in Canterlot, my school's been one of the leading teams in school football." Rainbow explained "we've won a few leagues and all"
"Hah! No wonder Mrs Evans had her eye on you!" Tenma replied,
"Mrs Evans... Are you implying that Miss Raimon is married?" Rainbow picked up,
"I see, she chose to use her maiden name when introducing herself." Flash remembered about the ring on Natsumi's hand.
"She's Coach Evans' wife." Tenma discussed "she hasn't told you that?"
"Nope, she just kept on telling us that she's Miss Raimon." Flash replied,
"Arion? Rainbow? Flash? It's time to go out!" Aki called from afar.
"Looks like we better get going!" Tenma guided.
Aki, Tenma, Rainbow and Flash were no sooner walking through the shopping plaza of Inazuma Town, looking at the numerous stores, a small but very ample supermarket, a fresh fish and meat market, a bric-a-brac (or curio) shop, and a very busy resturant.
"Rairaiken" Tenma stated "or Rai Rai Noodles for English, its a very nice place and a few of our team eats there regularly and even the owner of the store formerly played for Raimon!"
"Smells really nice." Flash replied as he sniffed the air. Rainbow could also smell it too, the scent of noodles being fried or soaked in the most delicious soup base.
"C'mon! I could have had my breakfast here!" Rainbow moaned as she couldn't take the smell any longer.
"We can have lunch here another day." Tenma replied, attempting to calm her temper.
The hospital was the next stop on the trip and there were a few familiar faces for two of the people. A bright purple-haired nurse was happily having a chat with two boys who were younger than her but had quite similar hairstyles with that they have a spiky fringe and two strands of hair that curl into a spiral.
"Fuyuka-san! Kyousuke! Yuuichi!" Aki greeted
"Why! Aki-san! And Tenma too!" The Purple-haired nurse greeted back
"Tenma." Both the brothers greeted in unison. "And who might this be?" The smaller one spoke in a Russian-accented English.
"Oh, so I guess some neighponese people can speak English too." Rainbow picked up.
"Tch... Obviously..." The boy grunted,
"Well, it's nice to meet you too!" The nurse named Fuyuka greeted in English. "My name's Kudou Fuyuka, but you can call me Camellia."
"Well nice to meet you then." Flash replied,
"Oh, I get it now." The other boy replied in English, also with a Russian accent. Unlike the younger one, this one was much taller, but was in a wheelchair. "Aren't these people the new students from Equestria?"
"Is that so? I remember you ranting all about it Matsu-- I mean Sherwind." The younger one replied, swapping to Tenma's English Surname.
"My name's Rainbow Dash, and this is Flash Sentry." Rainbow greeted,
"I'm Tsurugi Kyousuke, and this is my brother Tsurugi Yuuichi. Respectively in English, you may call us Victor Blade and Vladimir Blade." The younger brother named Kyousuke introduced.
"Pleased to meet you." Yuuichi added,
"So you two starting with soccer?" Fuyuka asked,
"Just her." Flash replied, "I am, unfortunately, brought along for the ride."
"Is that so?" Kyousuke replied, staring at Flash. "Shame, I thought I can see something from you."
"Maybe I'll get interested soon enough, I've got musical hobbies such as the guitar and piano."
"Piano?" Tenma ears pricked "you're just like Shindou!"
"I believe he is another soccer player?" Flash asked, disregarding the fact that Tenma repeated the same line yesterday.
"Yep, and the former captain too!" Tenma added,
"Who's the captain now?" Rainbow Dash asked,
"Uhh... You'll meet him later!" Tenma replied, chuckling nervously.
"Sherwind?" Kyousuke gave a puzzled look, Tenma responded by giving shushing gestures.
"Well, I shouldn't keep you four any longer!" Fuyuka smiled, "I'll see you when any of you get injured!"
"Uh... Thanks?" Rainbow replied, confused.
"Come visit me if you have the chance to! Even when you're not injured!" Yuuichi added as the four left the doors.
"Rainbow and Flash... Hmm..." Kyousuke thought to himself,
"Thinking about something Vitya?" Yuuichi piped up, spotting Kyousuke deep in thought.
"I sense something hidden in them... Something. I know Rainbow's going to play Soccer but I think Flash also has some... Potential hidden inside, I just don't know what."
"Manager?" Yuuichi joked,
"Like I said, I don't know. But if he's a manager, he'll also have to deal with keeping the girls in line too." Kyousuke smirked
"You two!!!" Fuyuka rasped,
The park was next on the list of places to visit, but before, the group passed by a large white mansion, and a stirring piano melody came from one of the windows.
"This melody." Flash overheard "it's very dramatic."
"That definitely must be Shindou, his English name's Riccardo by the way, Riccardo di Rigo. He's a great pianist." Tenma replied, "all of his neighbours can hear him on the street, and from what I've heard from them, they really enjoy it."
"Huh... A virtuoso?" Rainbow asked,
"That's exactly his nickname!" Tenma nodded "well, his English nickname. Here, what people call him is roughly translated to 'Baton of God'. You know, a conductor's baton?"
"Yes, I know." Flash nodded,
The Park was a very lively place and from what Rainbow can see, so many young children relaxing on picnic mats, running around but mostly, kicking around a soccer ball.
"Wow, this place looks beautiful!" Rainbow exclaims, her eyes darting around the turf.
"Agreed" Flash nodded "this place is certainly a place to relax and have fun."
"Tenma!" A girl's voice echoed from the other side of the park. A girl with dark blue hair was running towards the group, with two other girls behind her, one with long red-orange hair with certain strands held with green hair bands and another with light brown-hair with two curls hanging from behind and was holding a camera.
"Hello Aoi." Tenma greeted back "and you too Midori and Akane-senpai! What are you girls doing here?"
"Akane's trying to get a picture of Shindou practising piano in his house... Again." The girl seemed to be named Midori sighed, "I'm telling you it's impossible Akane!"
"Ohh..." The camera holding girl sighed, "Why can't the trees grow taller?"
"What about you Tenma?" Aoi continued "You and Aunt Aki look very busy..." She peered behind Tenma and saw the two tall Equestrians, who gave back nervous waves "giving new foreign residents of Kogarashi a tour around Inazuma?"
"Not just any other foreigner!" Tenma corrected "because if it was, I wouldn't be around! These are the new First-Year students from Equestria! Remember what the teacher said? Rainbow here will be playing soccer with us!"
"Rainbow??? That's actually her name? Is it really that obvious? I mean, with the hair and all... What about the other guy?"
"Aoi, can we not talk about their appearances? It's not very nice, also putting the fact they don't know Neighponese. Why don't I introduce them to you instead?" Tenma sighed,
"Sorry, I guess I'm just rather interested in Equestria." Aoi apologised,
"This is Rainbow Dash and Flash Sentry." Tenma introduced "and Rainbow and Flash? This is my childhood friend Sorano Aoi. And those behind her are Seto Midori and Yamana Akane. They're the managers for the Raimon football team."
"Hey!" Rainbow bowed in greeting.
"Pleasure to meet you." Flash also bowed in greeting.
"And it's wonderful meeting you both!" Aoi replied with a curtsy instead of a bow. "You can call me Skie, Skie Blue. Sorry about the curtsey, I find Equestrian culture quite interesting!"
"That's English culture." Midori corrected "not Equestrian. My English name's Jade Greene and though I am Neighponese, I am part Irish too. You could probably tell by my accent."
"I can tell you have some fluency in English." Flash replied, "but we're not much educated on cultures of foreign countries."
"That's shocking!" Tenma jumped "I thought as being Equestrian, you would know more about other countries!"
"Unfortunately, our education system is still close minded and isolated to our own country. The only mention of other countries are through history."
"That sucks" Midori replied,
"It's nice to see that there are a few people that are not pure Neighpon I guess." Rainbow spoke
"I don't think I have introduced myself... Have I?" The third manager spoke, her English however, was very slow and was heavily accented with a mix of Spritish and Neighponese "you can call me Rosie. My English is not good."
"Rosie... Red?" Flash asked,
"Uh, T-Two D's at the surname. Redd" Akane corrected,
"Pleasure," Flash replied, shaking her hand, Akane giggled a little as she felt his hand
"You know, I feel like shaking a hand similar to this before." Akane continued,
"I don't remember any of my relatives coming to Neighpon." Flash spoke,
"I mean, shaking the hands of an Equestrian. I feel like I've done this before." Akane replied
"Anyway, we shouldn't keep you guys here." Aoi replied "we'll see more of each other when you start school. Toodles!" And the three waved goodbye as Rainbow and co left for their final location of the tour.
The tower of Inazuma stands tall as the sun starts to set. Rainbow and co gazed towards the town's direction, marvelling at the colours of the sun mixing with both the shopping area and riverside
"Wow..." Rainbow sighed "this looks so beautiful!"
"I know!" Tenma replied, "but if only the Tower was available to climb up today, we'd get a much better view!"
"Hey! Tenma!" A voice called out from behind, the group turned around to see three different figures approaching them. One who was small, one who had sharp yellow eyes, the other who had bluish-purple hair.
"Shinsuke! Kariya! Hikaru!" Tenma called back, "you guys look rather busy!"
"I'm here to train my catching skills!" Shinsuke, the small one, replied "what about you???" Then the small little boy looked behind "and who are those people?"
"Oh I remember," The sharp-eyed boy replied "those must be the new students from Equestria who's here for soccer, especially the rainbow haired girl."
"Cool! We're getting new members? That's great!" The final boy known as Hikaru jumped with glee
"Hey Arion," Rainbow pointed out "are these more of your friends?"
"Yes" Tenma replied, "this is Shinsuke, Kariya and Hikaru!" He pointed to each,
"Bonjour!" Shinsuke greeted in English with a Prench accent "my English name is Jean-Pierre Lapin, but you can call me JP!"
"My English name's Aitor Cazador" Kariya introduced "I'm looking forward to playing with you, heh heh heh..."
"Mexican?" Flash picked up on the accent
"And I'm Lucian Dark!" Hikaru introduced "unlike you guys, I've only just started playing soccer not so long ago, so I'm looking forward to playing together!"
"Nice to meet you all!" Rainbow smiled,
"By the way," Flash asked, "don't you normally train with the rest of your team?"
"Oh non!" Shinsuke explained "we're actually doing some training of our own! It's not like any ordinary training! Do you want to come see?"
"Sure! Why not?" Rainbow replied,
"I think you'd be rather surprised on how we do things" Aki giggled,
"For sure!" Tenma agreed,
"..." Flash began to feel suspicious as he followed the three students. Arriving at a nearby large tree, a tire swing was peacefully hanging from a very sturdy trunk.
"This is where we train!" Hikaru explained "even the Captain of the old Legendary Raimon team uses this in order to train his catching skills!"
"Umm... I don't see a ball around here..." Rainbow replied,
"We don't exactly use a ball for this type of training..." Kariya corrected "we use the tire!"
"Wait... What?" Flash eyebrows rose in confusion,
"Let's go Hikaru!" Shinsuke signalled, Hikaru grabbed the tire and brought it as high and far as possible,
"I'm ready! Letting it go now!" Hikaru replied and loosened his grip. The tire started descending in an angle, increasing it's velocity... Straight towards Shinsuke!
"Hi-yaaa!!!" Shinsuke yelled as he used his fist to punch back the tire, the collision preventing each of the two forces to surpass each other. After a few minutes of tension, the tire continued ploughing forward, knocking down the small boy.
"Oof!" Shinsuke moaned as he picked himself up from the ground "Ouch..."
"JP!" Rainbow jumped in shock "are you alright?"
"Don't worry!" Kariya comforted "it takes more than that to knock him out!"
"Oh non, I messed up again... But I make sure to do it next time!" JP cheered,
"My turn! My turn!" Hikaru exclaimed.
With Kariya on tire swinging duty, Hikaru stood his ground, ready to kick the tire
"Here it comes!" Kariya signalled as he let the tire flying once more
"Rrraagh!" Hikaru yelled as he swung his leg and collided his foot with the ever fast tire. Unlike Shinsuke, Hikaru's kicking strength managed to overpower the tire's oncoming force and kicked it away.
"You did it!" Shinsuke jumped for joy, the Equestrians on the other hand, were rather terrified and speechless.
"What's wrong Rainbow? Flash?" Tenma spotted,
"Are..." Flash stuttered "are you sure this is safe?"
"Don't worry!" Shinsuke smiled, "sure, It may hurt a lot, but it doesn't hurt as much as how hard our opponents kick!"
"Uh..." Rainbow jumped,
"Looks like it's my turn" Kariya replied,
"Um... May I know what your position is Aitor?" Flash asked,
"I'm a defender," Kariya answered "in the cases of this training, I am going to use my entire body to block the tire. How's that?"
"Umm..." Rainbow signalled to Tenma "I think we can go now..."
"Oh, is that so?" Tenma replied, "well then, I believe we've got to go home now. Rainbow and Flash needs to practice their Neighponese"
"Okay then, catch you at school later!" Shinsuke and the others waved goodbye as the group hurried back to Windsor.
"Flash?" Rainbow gulped,
"I'm as confused myself Rainbow" Flash replied,
Back at the manor, night fell upon the town of Inazuma. After a few hours of simple Japanese language and alphabet, the two Equestrians enjoyed a very nice dinner, followed with some mouthwatering and tasty dessert.
"Thanks for the cake Auntie Sylvia!" Rainbow Dash replied,
"It's as delicious as always!" Tenma replied,
"I've enjoyed it very much." Flash replied, "is this how you say, Gochisousama? After a meal?"
"That is correct" Aki nodded,
"well" Rainbow pulled an unimpressed face "at least someone's learning!"
"You'll need to learn it too Rainbow!" Tenma reminded "otherwise you'll have a very bad time!"
"Yeah yeah..." Rainbow sighed as she takes her dish to the kitchen sink "I'm going to turn in early tonight, just to work this jet-lag. Night everyone." And left the dining area with a concerned face, also concerning the others
"Hey Flash, is there something wrong with her?" Tenma asked,
"She does look rather unhappy. I'll be sure to ask her what's wrong when I go to sleep."
Rainbow sighed as she typed to her friends that she's not in the mood for a video chat before stretching herself on her bed.
"What is going on in Neighpon?" Rainbow mumbled to herself, "first, that kick power from the young girl in Riverside, and now those students' method of training? This is completely crazy! As if things gotten out of hand, can't this day end with a peaceful sleep?" And as she quietly ranted herself to sleep, her hopes of having a peaceful night is interrupted once more as she finds herself in a familiar spot.
"Oh crap" Rainbow moaned as she picked herself up from a familiar podium as she sees a familiar dock surrounded by a violent, endless stretch of water. "Is this the freaking dream again!?" As she stood upright, she found out that she wasn't as exhausted and tired as she was the last time she came here.
"Huh, that's weird..." Rainbow noted as she did a few basic stretches and strides. Looking around, she saw the same girl from before praying again.
"H-Hey!" Rainbow called once more but just like before, the girl seemed to ignore her and travel back into the island's interior.
"Wait up!" Rainbow called as she gave chase. As she got to the island's entrance however, she felt no signs and strains of immediate fatigue or tiredness, nor were her arms or legs pulling her strength down.
"No way, can I actually go through this time!?" Rainbow gasped with a smile. Without any other word, she dashed through the small canopy, and found herself on a large clearing filled with fresh grass, beautiful flowers and a strong but pleasant wind flowing through the area.
"Wow..." Rainbow gasped as she looked around, "this place is very pretty." She minced her words as she saw a very large twisted mound of rock from afar, which it's large area from the top seems to look like it was holding something.
"That thing's huge! I wonder if someone's up there?" She gazed hard as she tried to see what was on top of that rock. Though she couldn't make it out what it is, what she did manage to make out was the girl from before, perched on top of the rock, looking down on the grassy plains. Rainbow however, felt a feeling of confusion. She darted to the left, she darted to the right until it suddenly hit her. This girl calmly looking down on the plains, was actually focusing her eyes on Rainbow herself.
"M-Me?" Rainbow called out as she pointed to her self "are you talking to me?" Without any response, the girl pointed at her, then towards a curved path to what seems to be the way to another section of the island. Even without any words, Rainbow understood that this girl wants her to follow these directions to which she did. But with every step towards the entrance to the third section of the island, the heavy fatigue from before started to kick in...
"Aw man... Again? Let me go further!!!" Rainbow moaned as she heavily lay to the ground in her sleeping pose once more, her eyes pointed towards the rock mound once again, where the small girl who still had her finger pointing in her intended direction started to vanish once more.